TN Legislation Would Codify Family Visitation Of Hospital Patients, But With “Certain Conditions”

Photo Credit: Sweetwater Hospital Association

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

A new bill undergoing the legislative process in the Tennessee General Assembly seeks to require hospitals to allow at least one family member to visit a patient during an end-of-life situation when a disaster or public emergency has been called.

House Bill 2778 (HB2778), sponsored by Representative Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough-District 7) and Senate Bill 2169 (SB2169), sponsored by Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28) as introduced, requires hospitals to permit at least one family member or patient representative who meets certain conditions to visit a patient of the hospital during end-of-life situations if a disaster, emergency, or public health emergency for COVID-19 has been declared.

The “certain conditions” mentioned in the bill summary above requires that the family member or patient representative must meet the following criteria to visit the patient in such a time:

• The visitor must provide a negative test for COVID-19 in accordance with the hospital’s policy

• The visitor is not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or another communicable disease

• The visitor must agree to follow all safety protocols established by the hospital, which must be clearly specified in writing and be no more restrictive than protocols applicable to staff of the hospital.

• The visitor’s presence would not cause the hospital to violate any federal or state law, rule, or guidance regulating that hospital

The bill also has the caveat that it will only apply providing there is no law in effect that contradicts its orders.

If the bill goes into law, it will not take effect until July 1, 2022.  

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At the time of the publication of this article, HB2778 has been introduced and assigned to the House Health Subcommittee.  SB2169 has been passed on first and second consideration and referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

Should it pass the Act will amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 14 and Title 68, Chapter 11, relative to visitation in hospitals.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com